War In Nagorno Karabakh Can Start At Any Moment

The Northern states of the Pan Islamic Empire looking to keep the boundaries in conflict so that when the time comes "giving" those away will make the greater geo-political state seem so much more palatable.

Plus it keeps their potential problems occupied all along the periphery.

Azerbaijan: We have the right to free our land using military force

Talks between Azerbaijan and Armenia are due to begin shortly (in nine hours or so). If the meeting ends without results, Azerbaijan might try to retake Nagorno Karabakh by force.


Azerbaijan threatens force over Nagorno-Karabakh

(AP) – 8 hours ago


President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan said Saturday his nation may resort to military force if talks with Armenia on resolving a long-standing territorial dispute produce no result.

Aliyev said he expects to hold talks next week with his Armenian counterpart, Serge Sarkisian, on resolving the dispute over Nagorno-Karabakh. "If that meeting fails to produce result, our hopes for negotiations will vanish," Aliyev said during a meeting with Azerbaijani refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh.

[---]

liyev said Azerbaijan wants a peaceful settlement, but won't wait indefinitely. "We have the right to free our land using military force," he said.

Pressure for progress at talks on rebel Karabakh

Nov 21, 2009


Azerbaijan and Armenia hold talks on Sunday on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, with Azeri ally Turkey pressing for progress before it seals an historic rapprochement with neighbouring Armenia.

[---]

Talks between Armenia's Serzh Sarksyan and Azerbaijan's Ilham Aliyev are due to begin at midday (1100 GMT) at the residence of the French Consul General in Munich. It will be the sixth such encounter this year.

"If that meeting ends without result, then our hopes in negotiations will be exhausted and then we are left with no other option," Aliyev said in comments broadcast on Saturday. "We have the full right to liberate our land by military means."

The meeting has started. According to reports from the meeting, there are no signs of an agreement...


Azerbaijani, Armenian Presidents Meeting, Again, To Discuss Nagorno-Karabakh

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and his Armenian counterpart, Serzh Sarkisian, are meeting today in the German city of Munich to discuss the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

[---]

Mediators from the United States, Russia, and France -- the co-chairs of the OSCE's mediating Minsk Group -- say they are making progress in the talks. But so far neither side has committed to difficult concessions.

Hrair Tamrazian, the director of RFE/RL's Armenian Service, is following the talks in Munich. He says he is not expecting any breakthroughs today

[---]

The meeting comes just days after Aliyev said hopes to resolve the conflict through diplomatic means will be "exhausted" if today's talks fail to produce an agreement.

This meeting is a waste of time. There will be no breakthrough in Azeri-Armenian relations for some time to come. What is more interesting, is what will happen to Azeri-Turkish relations, since Turkey recently extend a hand to start political dialogue with Armenia. Azerbaijan has been rather furiour at both Turkey and Armenia because of this, and this may push it to seek closer ties with the US.

What interests me the most, is what made Turkey change its stance in regard to Armenia? Perhaps Russia exerted some influence to help its ally Armenia. Very interesting turn of events, and a positive one in my opinion. Without close allies, Azerbaijan is less likely to restart the war in Armenia, unless Aliyev want the repeat of what happened in Georgia last August. But he is not an impulsive moron like Saaka, and he wouldn't want to jeopardize Azerbaijan's oil and gas exports which are lining his pockets with billions of dollars.

Apparently, some "important progress" was made in the talks today. Whatever it is...


"Important progress" made in Karabakh talks-OSCE

The presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan made "important progress" in talks about Nagorno-Karabakh on Sunday, but some difficulties were identified, French OSCE mediator Bernard Fassier said.

Here are some other sources. I've seen no details yet, on what this "progress" is. Aliyev has said that his troops are ready for war.


Telegraph: Azerbaijan military threat to Armenia

Azerbaijan and Armenia held a presidential summit on Sunday amid warnings that a full blown war is brewing over a festering territorial dispute.

[---]

Azeris have never forgiven or forgotten the loss. They have been talking on and off to Armenia for the past 15 years about clawing back at least some of the territory.

[---]

It is unclear what concessions Armenia would be willing to make, especially as it is backed by the Russian military, which is permanently stationed on its territory.

RIA Novosti: Progress reported as Armenian, Azerbaijani leaders meet in Munich

Mediators reported progress on the Nagorny Karabakh settlement as Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents Ilham Aliyev and Serzh Sargsyan exchanged opinions on the issue at a meeting in Munich on Sunday.

(Aliyev and Sargsyan... sitting in a tree...) They look like really good friends in that picture, don't they? Let's hope that there will be no war...

reply to post by Hellmutt


I don't know, Aliyev looks like he has some ill intentions towards his counterpart. Nothing good can come of that fake smile.

Nagorno-Karabakh Recognition

Armenia said it will recognize Nagorno Karabakh if Azerbaijan take military action against NK. No surprise.


Nagorno-Karabakh recognition

November 24, 2009


Armenia said on Monday it could recognise breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh as an independent state if Azerbaijan carries out its threat of military action to take back the mountainous territory

[---]

Sarksyan’s spokesman Samvel Farmanyan said in a statement:” It should be noted that Armenia so far has not recognised the independence of Nagorno-Karabakh for one reason—so that it would not become an obstacle to peaceful negotiation.”

“If peaceful negotiations break down and military action begins, then nothing stands in the way of Armenia recognizing the independence of Nagorno-Karabakh.”

Deadly clashes in Nagorno-Karabakh

Clashes between Azerbaijani soldiers and Armenian soldiers in Nagorno-Karabakh. Five dead. The attack occurred shortly after a meeting between the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan and Russian President Medvedev.


Euronews: Deadly clashes in Nagorno Karabakh

19/06


Five soldiers are reported to have been killed in clashes in Azerbaijan’s breakaway region of Nagorno Karabakh.

[---]

Armenia claims a group of Azerbaijani soldiers entered the region late on Friday.

There has been no official comment on the reports from Azerbaijan.

Reuters: Four Armenians and one Azeri killed in Karabakh clash

Jun 19, 2010


The ethnic-Armenian controlled military said in a statement its soldiers repelled an Azeri attack late Friday, in which four ethnic Armenian soldiers were killed and four wounded.

In Baku, Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry confirmed a clash took place and an Azeri soldier was killed.

[---]

A day before Friday's clash, the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan met, together with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, and agreed to continue internationally mediated efforts to resolve the conflict.

Armenian President Serzh Sarksyan, speaking to reporters on Saturday on the sidelines of the St Petersburg Economic Forum in Russia, said the clash was an Azeri provocation, which was "all the more unacceptable" since it occurred hours after the meeting.

RFE/RL: Five Troops Killed In Nagorno-Karabakh Clash

19.06.2010


The ministry said in a statement that the deaths were the "result of fighting with an Azerbaijani armed reconnaissance group."

[---]

Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian blamed Baku for the overnight action in Nagorno-Karabakh's Martakert region, calling it "a pre-planned action" intended to scuttle peace negotiations.

Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry spokeman Elkhan Polukhov, responding to Nalbandian's statement said, "It was not within the authority of Mr. Nalbandian to comment on matters, the cause of which lies in the continuing occupation of Azerbaijani lands."

Military spending surge

On October 22, Azerbaijan's parliament approved a military budget that is higher than the entire state budget of Armenia.


Azerbaijan: Baku Embarks on Military Spending Surge, Seeking Karabakh Peace

Azerbaijan’s parliament on October 22 approved a military budget of 2.5 billion manats, or about $3.12 billion. That figure is higher than the entire state budget of Baku’s neighbor and longtime foe, Armenia.

Experts in Baku believe the spending surge is designed to send a message to both Armenia and the international community: if efforts to reach a peace deal on the Nagorno-Karabakh territory remain stalled, Azerbaijan could again resort to force in an attempt to settle the conflict.

Adding to a long list of wars that can break out at any moment ..

troubling time we live in ... indeed

Just goes to show what kind of times we are living in right now. If this escalates anymore than what it already has, we could be talking about a large scale conflict that could be on our hands. Just for the simple matter that Armenia is an ally to the Russians and the Turkish. Both of which the United States has had some choppy relations with here in the past few years. All it is gonna take is one "incident" and then it will blow up in the Russians, the Turks, the Azerbajahni's, and our faces.

reply to post by gimmefootball400


Actually, Armenia is far from allied with Turkey. They are old enemies too, and Turkey killed many Armenians a long time ago (Google: Armenia Turkey genocide). In 1993, Turkey closed its border with Armenia in support of Azerbaijan. The border was recently reopened, and this has made relations between Azerbaijan and Turkey colder. Btw, Turkey is a member of NATO.

Azerbaijan is lobbying for Turkish support. US expert warns of the risk of war. The first link is Azeri, while the second link is Armenian.


Azerbaijani MP speaks about realities of country at World Turkic forum (UPDATE)

24.10.2010


Pashayeva stressed that the Nagorno-Karabakh problem does not only belong to Azerbaijan, but is a problem of the whole Turkic world, and the Turks living all over the world should do everything possible to further increase efforts to solve this problem.

"We must jointly combat the lies of the so-called "Armenian genocide", move from defenсe to attack, work together to inform the world and achieve the recognition of the genocide committed by Armenians 18 years ago in Khojaly before the eyes of the world," said Pashayeva.

Karabakh conflict not frozen any more, U.S. expert says

October 23, 2010


The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict cannot be considered frozen any more, Fiona Hill, expert on Russia and Eurasia at Brookings institute, said in an interview with the Armenian VOA service.

There are still sniping incidents on the contact line between Azerbaijani and NKR armed forces and it is very dangerous, she said. According to her, Azerbaijan is actively getting ready for a new war.

This is not meant to be sarcastic, but really,

Who cares?

Armenian soldier killed in Nagorno-Karabakh. Medvedev will meet with Aliev and Sargsyan tomorrow.


Azeris kill one more Armenian soldier

October 26, 2010


Baku is again aggravating the situation in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone on the threshold of an Armenian-Azerbaijani-Russian presidential meeting. Serzh Sargsyan, Ilham Aliev and Dmitry Medvedev are to meet in Astrakhan on Oct. 27.

Soldier killed in Nagorno-Karabakh

Oct 26, 2010


A soldier has died in clashes that took place in Nagorno-Karabakh, just before a scheduled meeting between Armenia and Azerbaijan in Russia.

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Mediators between the two sides have repeatedly asked that snipers be removed from the contact line which the Armenian side approved and the Azerbaijani side refused.

This request to remove snipers was last proposed by the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in the frameworks of a UN General Assembly session but was again met with the same response when Armenia approved and Azerbaijan disapproved.

Armenia gets support from Iran.


Iranian FM: Iran ready to support the resolution of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict

27/10/2010


Armenia and Iran have ties ranking on a very high level and Iran demonstrated its readiness to support the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Iran’s Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki declared during a meeting with the reporters are Media International Exhibition in Tehran.

Azerbaijan is grateful for Ukraine's support.


Azerbaijan President: Azerbaijan is grateful to Ukraine for consistent and fundamental position on resolution of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict

27.10.2010


The territory of Azerbaijan, recognized by the world community, is under occupation for 20 years. War crimes were committed. Khojaly town was completely destroyed and a genocide was committed against Azerbaijanis

[---]

Azerbaijan will never reconcile with the loss of its territory. We will restore it. I would like this to be done quickly, without military actions," he said.

President Aliyev expressed gratitude to Ukraine for its consistent and fundamental stance on the conflict settlement

reply to post by ArcAngel


Who cares?

Those of us who have at least a little bit of humanity left and aren't totally consumed with the 'I'm allright Jack' attitude that seems so prevalent nowadays.

In addition, there are still those of us who take more than a cusory interest in world affairs and enjoy Hellmutt's updates on this potentially violent situation.

Originally posted by Hellmutt


“If we observe the Nagorno Karabakh conflict from the OSCE Minsk Group point of view, it can be the only conflict in the CIS territory, in settlement of which all world powers are interested, because continuation of the conflict is unprofitable to everybody, including the US, Russia and Europe,” said vice-president of the International Crisis Group Alain Deletroz.

the war in Nagorno Karabakh can start at any moment, after one of the sides suddenly thinks it has enough forces to retrieve all occupied territories. He added that recent showings of both Azerbaijan and Armenian economies demonstrate that war will ruin all positive tendencies

Does anyone else find the language in this article shocking?

" it can be the only conflict in the CIS territory, in settlement of which all world powers are interested, because continuation of the conflict is unprofitable to everybody,"

.........continuation of the conflict is unprofitable to everybody?

So, here's someone actually stating the truth - no profit in this war, so TPTB will be interested in stopping it. What does that say about the other wars which are going on and which aren't being stopped? Too profitable to end them?????

reply to post by wcitizen


Yes. Also keep in mind that the article in the OP is from January 2006, 2½ years before the war between Georgia and Russia.